Candidates vy for Zone 4 post

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As far as Metis Lyle Donald is concerned the only way Metis people are going to make things happen is by working together as a team.

A candidate for the MAA Zone 4 vice-president's position Donald says for too long Metis, especially in Zone 4, have split as a community because of leaders who want to do their jobs individually and not as a team.

He believes all Alberta zones are too vast, which results in numerous issues important to the Metis not being solved within a reasonable time.

"We must address all concerns of the zone by coming together as a community and give the same attention to everyone, whether dealing with problems in Edmonton or problems in a town, for instance, Grand Cache," Donald says.

Donald says he would tackle this problem, if elected, by forming two councils - one in the Edson, Marlboro, Hinton, Grande Cache area to deal with problems in that specific area.

He says he would also bring together the Metis Council of Edmonton to deal with the needs and concerns of Metis people.

"I will, with the direction of the regional council, work on forming a new zone so the rural council can take over their own affairs.

"And I will revive all the Metis locals that folded over the last few years and help the Metis in these locals understand how to take advantage of the framework agreement," says Donald.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Donald is a single parent and the father of three children.

He worked as a photojournalist with Windspeaker for seven years, four years with Metis Children Services and most recently with Native Network News.

Stan Plante is the only other candidate running for the position. Plant, the founding president of Metis Local 1885 in Edmonton, has been involved in local Metis politics for many years. Since 1988 he has been coordinator of the MAA / Alberta government framework agreement.

"It is an enabling agreement between the MAA and the provincial government which provides a process to deal with Metis issues and to put a structure in place to deal with these issues," Plante says.

When he was president of local 1885, the local founded Metis Children Services . The service is now under the umbrella of the MAA and its name has been changed to the Metis Children and Family Service of Alberta.

"I am proud of the work our local did," Plante says, who would like to see a better joint effort among Metis locals and Metis people to take advantage of the framework agreement and a stong regional council.

"It is these goals, I will work towards if elected," Plante says.

Plante is married with seven children and proudly admits he is now the grandfather of two.